Were you sexually assaulted or harassed while taking part in a wilderness therapy program? If you suffered sexual abuse from a Wilderness camp or program employee, another camper, or someone trespassing on the property, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the program owners / administrators.
Our law firm can help you with any questions regarding your legal rights and how you can take action against the people that failed to protect you. The sexual abuse lawyers at our office have decades of experience in the recovery of settlements for adults and minors who were sexually assaulted. We can also help you in a lawsuit for sexual exploitations, like sexual harassment and solicitations for sexual favors. Please contact our office as soon as possible to receive a free, private consultation.
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Why are These Programs Controversial?
We mentioned before that there are wilderness programs for both adults and minors, though most of the programs are designed for troubled teens with behavior and addiction issues. Sometimes referred to as outdoor behavioral therapy, this is an alternative option to seeking treatment at a traditional rehab center. Though each program is different, they generally operate on the principle of living outdoors and healing through methods like therapeutic camping, nature therapy, and adventure camps.
Wilderness therapy sounds great in theory, but putting the program into practice is very difficult, especially if you are dealing with minors. Frankly, many organizations lack the experience, funding, leadership, and staffing that are needed to keep participants safe. As a result, there are plenty of stories in the news of people being injured, killed, or sexually assaulted at a wilderness camp or retreat. Keep in mind that there has yet to be any credible research that validates the effectiveness of these programs. This is why most clinicians argue that the risks outweigh any benefits that can be provided by wilderness therapy.
Why Sexual Abuse Happens at Wilderness Programs
It’s ironic that places meant to provide physical and emotional healing can cause the deepest injury to those suffering from addiction and mental health disorders. The truth is, wilderness programs have a poor record of keeping people safe, whether it’s from dangerous accidents or abuse by a predatory individual. We also know that more and more victims are coming forward with horror stories of physical and sexual assault that they endured as participants of these programs.
It’s a camp or program’s duty to exercise reasonable care and ensure that safety protocols are in place, whether the participants are teens or adults. They must also take action to remove dangerous individuals from the program, like those accused of sexual misconduct. This is particularly important at wilderness programs, where people have mental health disorders that can be exploited by child molesters and other sick individuals.
Below are just some of the measures that wilderness programs can take to protect their patients from sexual assault and other harmful incidents:
- Doing thorough background checks on all job applicants
- Ensuring that workers are certified / have extensive experience working with troubled teens, drug addicts, the mentally ill, etc.
- Making sure there is constant supervision and adequate security on the premises, especially if the program is for teenagers
- Contacting the police immediately when there ae accusations or suspicious circumstances that are indicative of sexual misconduct
If program administrators fail to take such measures in order to prevent sexual abuse within the program, they are liable for the victim’s emotional and physical injuries.
Settlement Values for Wilderness Therapy Sexual Assault Cases
These are cases with fairly high settlement values, especially for those who were subjected to sexual assault (rape, attempted rape, sexual touching, etc.). One thing to note is that any type of physical interaction for sexual gratification between adults and minors is sexual assault under California law. Claims for sexual assault may have values ranging from $1,500,000 to $5,000,000. On the higher end, it’s possible for these cases to settle for $10,000,000 and above, though this is quite rare.
You can also file lawsuits for sexual exploitation and harassment, like being groomed and talked into a relationship where you exchanged sexual content (nude pics, sexting, etc.) with an adult that works for a wilderness therapy program. These cases may settle for $500,000 or less, though we do sometimes have situations that merit $1,000,000 and above in compensation.
Our ultimate goal is secure the highest possible settlement based on the harm you suffered. As a victim of wilderness therapy sexual abuse, you may be entitled to some of all of these damages:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Cost of therapy and other medical expenses
- Lost wages and/or lost income opportunities
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages
- Legal fees
Statute of Limitations for a Sexual Abuse Claim
If you were 18 years or older at the time you were sexually abused at a wilderness therapy program, you have a time period of 10 years to file a lawsuit. Normally, your deadline to sue is 10 years from the incident date, but many people suffer multiple incidents of assault / abuse over an extended period of time. In that case, you would base the statute of limitations on the last incident that took place between you and the perpetrator.
Now, let’s look at child sexual abuse lawsuits, which have a more complicated deadline. These rules apply to anyone who was sexually abused before the age of 18, which is the legal age of consent in California. These victims can sue the wilderness therapy program up until their 40th birthday, or 22 years after they are legally an adult.
If you are a child sex abuse victim who is older than 40, you may have the chance to file a lawsuit under the discovery rule. This is a legal exception where victims can file a lawsuit within 5 years of learning about an injury or psychological damage resulting from childhood sexual abuse. A lawyer specializing in child abuse claims can explain this concept to you in more detail and verify how long you have for a wilderness camp therapy program lawsuit.
Contact a Sexual Assault and Abuse Attorney
Whether you are the abused victim or the parent of a child that was sexually assaulted, you have the right to seek compensation for negligence by a wilderness therapy program. Our team of sexual abuse lawyers can educate you on the available legal options and help you build a strong and solid case.
Along with legal representation, we protect your finances with the Zero Fee Guarantee. Under this policy, you will never be asked to pay out of pocket to hire us for a wilderness therapy sex abuse lawsuit. Our payment comes from winning your case and obtaining a percentage of your settlement. That means if we fail to bring you a settlement or favorable verdict, you owe us $0 in legal fees.
In short, there is nothing to lose by giving us a call and talking to one of our legal experts. We look forward to hearing your story and fighting for the compensation you desire.
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